Beijing, a car-crazy city that has 2.4 million automobiles but nowhere near
that many parking spaces, is expected to reform its parking fee rates this year.

Pricing departments are mulling over adjustments for both indoor and outdoor
parking lots and plan to finalize a regulation on parking fees soon, according
to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform.

The current parking fees at indoor lots - most of which lie underground - are
2.5 times greater than outdoor lots.

As a result, many people would rather drive round and round to find a place
to park than pull into relatively spacious underground lots.

"The price differences of outdoor and indoor lots are unreasonable. A number
of cars driving around and looking for parking spots worsens traffic
congestion," said Wang Yan, a commission official who is in charge of fee
collections.

Wang told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday that his commission and
related departments are considering the price adjustments, as well as
diversifying rates, in order to balance use of indoor and outdoor lots.

In addition, officials said, parking fees at sports venues and theatres will
also be changed. Massive numbers of cars pour into such places when performances
are staged, which usually leads to serious traffic jams.

He said current parking rates measured by the hour are not suitable for these
places at special times.

If a performance or a match lasts three hours, a car owner needs only to pay
6 yuan (73 US cents)since the parking rate is 2 yuan (24 US cents) per hour for
outdoor parking lots. That charge hardly encourages people to take buses or
other public transit means rather than driving private cars to venues.

Wang said in the future, car owners likely will have to pay relatively high
parking fees instead of fees by the hour.

The upcoming parking reforms also include lots at residential estates where
complaints of arbitrary charges are reported from time to time, said Wang.

In Beijing, private car owners need to pay 150 yuan to 400 yuan (US$18-US$48)
per month for parking in their residential communities. An additional
administrative fee of 50 yuan (US$6) is also required every month. Many people
complain that property management companies only collect money but do not keep
an eye on their cars nor provide enough services.

Wang said his commission is investigating the parking charges at 100
residential communities and will work out a regulation on parking fees
collecting at residential estates within this year.